PARENTING CONSULTANT AGREEMENT

**** And **** (“The Parties”) agree to retain Parenting Consultant services from Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto and to follow the following provisions:

  1. Role of the Parenting Consultant: Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto will serve as a Parenting Consultant to the Parties. The Parties understand that Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto will assist them with issues involving their child or children including but not limited to access schedules, parenting styles, discipline of the child or children, extra-curricular activities, educational issues and any other issues surrounding the child or children that the Parties agree to submit to the Parenting Consultant. The Parenting Consultant will not assist with financial issues unless both Parties agree, in writing, to submit the issue(s) to the Parenting Consultant and the Parenting Consultant agrees to resolve the issue(s.)

Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto may provide information about the family situation, facilitate discussion, cooperation and agreements between the Parties or express an opinion about a situation. Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto may offer impressions, opinions and recommendations in her role as the Parenting Consultant. These impressions, opinions and recommendations may be unpleasant for one or all of the Parties to hear and the Parties may not be in agreement with Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto’s statements.

Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto will not provide therapeutic or evaluative services to the Parties, nor will she offer the Parties any legal advice.

  1. Duration of Appointment. Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto’s appointment does not begin until the signed agreement and required deposit is returned by all the Parties and Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto signs the appointment. Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto’s appointment will end two (2) years from the date Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto signs the agreement. Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto may also end her appointment at her sole discretion, or by order of the Court.
  1. Decision Making. The Parties understand that Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto will first work with them to help them reach an amicable agreement. However, if they are unable to agree about a particular issue, Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto will make a decision that will be binding to the Parties. Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto will put all decisions in writing, with copies going to each Party and his or her attorneys. If either (or both) of the Parties disagree with a decision, it is their responsibility to schedule a hearing with the Court within fourteen (14) days of receipt of Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto’s written decision. The Parties agree to follow the decision unless (or until) it is formally modified by the Court.
  1. Conduct in the Parenting Consultant Process. The Parenting Consultant process will be conducted in the manner that Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto believes will be the best and most quickly permit a full understanding, discussion, and resolution of the issues. Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto may meet with the Parties together or separately, in person, by telephone or through electronic means, such as e-mail. She may also request meetings with the child or children and/or with significant others or other family members related to the child or children.
  1. Confidentially. No information provided to or obtained by Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto is confidential with the exception of communications and information received from the children’s therapists. Any information received by any means may be shared with the other parent, attorneys, and the Court at the discretion of the Parenting Consultant.
  1. Safe Harbor. If the children are receiving mental health services, the Parenting Consultant may seek information from their mental health provider. In order to preserve the safety and confidentiality of the children’s therapeutic environment, it is essential that the children feel safe to speak openly with their therapist without fear of their statements being disclosed, so that the therapist’s office may serve as a “safe harbor” for the child. Therefore, any information provided to the Parenting Consultant by any mental health provider for the children will be maintained as confidential. Any documents containing information provided by the mental health professional treating the children shall be kept in a file separate from the Parenting Consulting file. Neither parent shall, nor will either parent permit his or her attorney to, subpoena the information contained in this separate file. Any party (or his or her attorney) who seeks to interrogate the Parenting Consultant about or to subpoena the information in this separate file shall be liable for all attorney fees and costs incurred to resist answering discovery requests or to quash a subpoena. If the Parenting Consultant makes a decision based on input from the therapist, the Parenting Consultant reserves the right to document this decision stating only “I have decided this based on input from the children’s therapist,” without further explanation.
  1. Authorizations for Release of Information: The Parties agree that they will sign whatever authorizations for release for information Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto decides are necessary for her to fulfill her duties.
  1. Cancellation Police: If a Party is unable to keep an appointment, the Party must notify Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto two (2) business days in advance. If advance notice is not received, that Party will be responsible for paying for that missed appointment.
  1. Payment for Parenting Consultant’s Time: The Parties shall pay for all time spent by Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto at the rate of fifty dollars ($50) an hour. This hourly rate is subject to change upon thirty (30) days written notice. Time is billed at a minimum of .2 hour increments (12 minutes.) The quarterly bill each Parties receives will reflect the full hourly rate, however, the time reflected will be the portion for which each Party is responsible (generally, on-half of the actual time expended.) This fee will be charged for any and all time Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto spends working on this matter, including meetings with the Parties, telephone calls pertaining to the matter, reviewing and responding to e-mails, review letters and other records and written material, preparation or written reports and decisions, round trip travel time and any other time expended in association with the duties of the Parenting Consultant.

(a.)The Parties shall make a deposit/retainer of $1,000 with this signed agreement. No appointments will be set or services provided until this agreement is signed and the deposit is received. Each Party shall pay half (or $500) of the deposit, unless the Parties have agreed to a different arrangement. This retainer will be deposited in a non interest bearing account and applied to any time or expenditures associated with Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto’s involvement as the Parenting Consultant.

(b.)The Parties shall make an additional deposit when the previous deposit has fallen below a $250 balance, or will fall below a $250 balance by the next face to face meeting with the Parties. This deposit shall be an amount equal to the previous deposit or a lesser amount if Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto reasonably expects that the remaining fees will be less than the amount of the previous deposit. The quarterly statements each Party receives will reflect the balance on the account. If the Party’s account balance is not replenished as required above and any outstanding fees are not paid in full, services may, at Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto’s discretion, be suspended on this file.

(c.)Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto may assess more than the portion of the fees and costs outlined above to either party if she determines that a Party has abused the process or if she determines that her involvement is no longer necessary.

(d.)The Parties shall pay any fees and costs not covered by the above deposits within thirty (30) days after billing.

(e.)If any deposit remains in the Parties account when Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto is assured that her services are no longer needed, she will refund the remaining funds to the Parties. In order to be sure that the refund is correctly computed, it will not be paid until completion of the quarterly billing statement for the month in which Parenting Consulting services were terminated.

  1. Non-Payment:

(a.)Absent other agreements, Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto reserves the right to suspend all services, including provision of written documentation, until payment of any unpaid balance.

(b.)IN the event on Party does not pay his or her share of the retainer, the other Party may pay the full retainer requested and bring a motion seeking reimbursement for the non-complying Party’s share of the retainer.

  1. Payment for Administrative Costs: There will be a one- time administrative fee of $250 charged which is divided between the Parties. This administrative charge is payable at the time of the initial orientation meeting.

My signature below indicates that I have received, read and understand the information in this agreement, and that I agree to retain Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto as the Parenting Consultant under the conditions described in this agreement.

______

Date Date

Dated: ______

Mrs. Karen L. DeVoto

Parenting Consultant